Crowner noise shield

Abstract

An acoustic enclosure is provided having top, bottom, front, side and back panels formed to receive and enclose the face plate and chute of a crowner machine. Acoustically absorbant and cleanable material is disposed on the interior surfaces of the side portions to absorb sound produced at the crowner face plate and chute, and the edges of the enclosure abutting the crowner machine include a material for creating a seal therebetween to further reduce the sound level in the immediate area.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. In a crowner machine including a face plate, chute and crown advancing means, said crown advancing means producing high levels of noise, the improvement comprising: an acoustic enclosure for absorbing at least a portion of the noise produced by the crown advancing means, said acoustic enclosure including top, bottom, front, back and two side panels connected together, at least one of said panels having sound-absorbing material removably mounted thereto, said back panel being formed with an opening to receive the face plate, chute and crown advancing means, said panels being adapted to engage the surface of said crowner machine, said acoustic enclosure being mounted to said crowner machine so that the face plate, chute and crown advancing means are received within said opening in said back panel as said panels engage the surface of said crowner machine thereby entirely enclosing the face plate, chute and crown advancing means within said acoustic enclosure for maximum absorption of noise.   
     
     
       2. An acoustic enclosure for reducing the noise produced by a crowner machine, said crowner machine including a hopper, a face plate mounted to said hopper, a chute and means for advancing crowns from said hopper to said face plate and along said chute, said acoustic enclosure comprising an upper and lower section, said upper section including front, back, bottom and side sections connected together for mounting to said hopper and enclosing said face plate of said crowner machine, said front panel of said upper section having a transparent portion to permit inspection of said face plate and crown advancing means and being moveable to provide access thereto, said lower section including top, bottom, front, back and side panels connected together for mounting to said crowner machine, said back panel being formed with at least one opening to receive said chute and crown advancing means for enclosure within the interior of said lower section, and said front panel of said lower section having a transparent portion to permit inspection of said chute and being moveable to provide access to said crowner machine. 
     
     
       3. The acoustic enclosure of claim 2 wherein the edges of said side panels adjacent said back panel of said lower section include sealing means for engagement with said crowner machine to reduce the escape of noise from said acoustic enclosure. 
     
     
       4. The acoustic enclosure of claim 2 wherein said bottom surface of said upper section includes inwardly extending edges having sealing means for engagement with the lower portion of said hopper. 
     
     
       5. The acoustic enclosure of claim 2 wherein said side panels of said upper and lower sections include sound absorbing material removably mounted thereto for absorbing sound produced by said crowner machine. 
     
     
       6. The acoustic enclosure of claim 2 wherein said bottom panel of said lower section slopes downwardly at an angle from said back surface to said front surface to provide drainage of any liquid introduced into said acoustic enclosure. 
     
     
       7. An acoustic enclosure for reducing the noise produced by a crowner machine, said crowner machine including a hopper, a face plate mounted to said hopper, a chute and means for advancing crowns from said hopper to said face plate and along said chute, said acoustic enclosure comprising an upper and lower section, said upper section including front, back, bottom and side sections connected together for mounting to said hopper and enclosing said face plate of said crowner machine, said bottom surface including edges extending inwardly adjacent the lower end of said hopper having sealing means for engagement thereto, said back, front and side sections being attached to the upper end of said hopper, said front panel of said upper section having a transparent portion to permit inspection of said face plate and crown advancing means and being moveable to provide access thereto, said lower section including top, bottom, front, back and side panels connected together for mounting to said crowner machine, said back panel being formed with an opening to receive said chute and crown advancing means for enclosure within the interior of said acoustic enclosure, said side panels having sealing means along their edges adjacent said back panel for sealing engagement with said crowner machine, the surfaces of said side panels disposed within the interior of said lower section having sound absorbing material removably mounted thereto for at least partially absorbing the sound produced by said crowner machine, said said front panel of said lower section having a transparent portion to permit inspection of said chute and crown advancing means and being moveable to provide access thereto.